On Fri, Jul 26, 2019 at 02:16:15PM -0600, home user via users wrote:
(replying to all responders)
Actually, the first thing that catches my attention is that when I
go to the password entry box, the system fans really surge. This
suggests to me the CPUs are working at or near capacity.
I also see top and ksysguard repeatedly freezing for several seconds.
(Fred: dirty shutdown; top)
The system was not responding to any keystrokes or trackball clicks.
The only remaining options are hard reset and hard power off.
there are often additional choices besides a hard shutdown.
google for "magic sysreq key".
(Fred: memory)
The problem is not memory use. It is CPU load.
OK. I was thinking of a "swap storm". if the system gets pushed into
heavy swapping (because of too much memory neededfor what is running)
it can slow to a crawl, sometimes taking many minutes to recover once
the memory pressure is relieved.
(Fred: waiting)
I waited quite a few seconds; certainly long enough to know there's
a real problem. It does take a while to move the cursor all over
the place, clicking in various places (e.g. menus, 'x' in the upper
right corner of various windows) along the way.
(Fred: CTRL-ALT-F2 or CTRL-ALT-F3)
Does going into this mode kill the session I was in before? If no,
how do I get back? If yes, how do I get back to normal operation
without rebooting?
No, the GUI is still there, it's just on another virtual screen.
Usually you can go back there by doing ALT-F1 or CTRL-ALT-F1.
--
---- Fred Smith -- fredex(a)fcshome.stoneham.ma.us -----------------------------
The Lord detests the way of the wicked
but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
----------------------------- Proverbs 15:9 (niv) -----------------------------